Love Your Liver

Your liver is your body’s own emergency ward. Constantly putting out fires, dealing with dangerous substances, providing vital protection and healing abilities. Why not love it back? The liver is often a forgotten vital organ until things start to go wrong, or you begin to feel unwell. It is responsible for processing toxins, hormones and all healthy and unhealthy fats in your body, so you want to keep it in optimal health and working at its best.

The Importance of Having a Healthy Liver

Your liver has your back when it comes to your protection, and is the hardest working organ in the body. It is responsible for producing bile which is essential for fat digestion, it balances sugar levels and converts fat into energy. As well as storing and processing hormones, toxins and cholesterol whilst protecting vital organs such as the brain and heart. Phew!

Through the food we eat, the air we breathe, our consumption of alcohol and prescription drugs, toxins can accumulate in our body. The adverse side effects include:

A sluggish, fatty liver

Fluid retention

Itchy skin conditions

Bloating and fluid retention

Weight gain and slow metabolism

Abdominal pain and swelling

Chronic fatigue

Nausea or vomiting

Liver disease.

When we consume more fat than our body needs, the fat is stored in the liver. As a result the liver gets clogged with excess fat and fails to work property. This develops into what is known as fatty liver. Essentially this means your liver can’t keep up, your metabolism will slow and your weight will increase. You may also experience digestion issues and be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Detoxing your liver will help flush any accumulated old bile, toxins and fat that are being stored to return the liver to its best form and you feeling your vibrant best.

Benefits of a Liver Detox

Giving your liver a rest from the heavy processing it needs to undertake on a daily basis will make it happier and healthier. A liver detox will help to kick start healthier eating habits but let’s take a closer look at what else a liver detox can do…

Assists with Weight LossOur digestive system uses bile which is produced by the liver to break down fat. Liver detoxing will promote bile production and kick-start weight loss.

Supports Your Immune SystemHaving a healthy liver is crucial to having a strong immune system. Since the liver reduces toxins from your body, and also contains essential immune factors that help protect you from bacteria, viruses and various cancers.

Boosts Energy LevelsThe by-products the liver makes are nutrients that the body will use for extra energy. The liver helps balance glucose levels in the blood, and makes sure we can utilise it when required.

Increases Health & WellbeingWhen you undertake a liver detox you will be restoring your liver to its peak efficiency. Reducing toxic build-up will make your skin look brighter and healthier. It will also be easier and quicker to tone your body through exercise because of the increase in bile production, and increase in energy levels. A well-functioning liver helps deal with excess stress hormones, as well as regulating your menstrual cycle and helping you make a smoother transition through menopause.

Simple Liver Detox

Having recently undertaken a liver detox, I can vouch for the amazing health benefits even while I follow a fairly healthy diet, there are still toxins that build up over time. I recommend a liver detox 1 to 2 times per year.

There are so many options when it comes to liver cleansing that it can be extremely confusing, and can put us off even starting one. Therefore it has to be simple, effective, and not too long. I recently completed the Liver Rescue 3:6:9 cleanse which is a 9 day program (Medical Medium Liver Rescue by Anthony William.)

The basic principles were to hydrate very well first thing in the morning, so to continue the liver cleansing process that starts overnight. This is done with Lemon or Lime water, and Celery or Cucumber juice on an empty stomach, followed by a high antioxidant nutritious smoothie containing; Blueberries, Bananas, Dragon Fruit and Papaya. It is basically a fat free cleanse so all fats are eliminated gradually over the 9 days, and the focus is on quality fruit and vegetables.

In the meantime you can stock up on the following foods, which will help support the liver to cleanse on a daily basis by providing valuable nutrients.

Celery: Drink a glass of fresh raw celery juice to help enhance and nourish your cells. It also helps curb sugar cravings and is packed full of Vitamin C, K, folate and potassium.

Organic Apples: Apples contain lots of fibre which will aid you to eliminate toxins.

Broccoli: It works with the enzymes in your liver to eliminate toxins.

Grapefruit: It includes lots of fibre and nutrients to stimulate your liver into action.

Garlic: It helps activate liver detox enzymes and assists in breaking down and eliminating toxins from your system.

Berries: A medicine chest for the liver providing so much good stuff, especially antioxidants and protection form the bad stuff.

Cucumbers: Powerful hydrating abilities that cleanse the blood and keep the body hydrated.

Figs & Dates: Provide easy to use fuel for the liver, help to eliminate bugs and mucous from the intestinal tract.

I hope this article inspires you to take good care of your liver and feel vibrant and healthy again. If you’re wanting to undertake a liver detox and are unsure about how to go about it or whether it’s right for you, book a consultation with me at the Moonee Ponds Mind Body Health Centre. Call 03) 9372 0499 or make an online booking.